This paper described the general concept of combustion instability and its mechanism in gas turbine engines. The approaching method to study this phenomenon was introduced including the up-to-date research activity in tile world. Combustion instability is one of critical problems, still now, affecting engine performance, durability and operation. In addition it is known that this problem is caused by coupling between fuel or air flow fluctuation and heat release rate in gas turbine engines, which is related with NOx reduction strategies. Therefore, in order to understand the current status of combustion instability we reviewed the combustion instability phenomenon in gas turbine engines.